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Hot Flashes, Hot Flashes, Hot Flashes - They Never Go Away!! Hormones VS Opiates...

B

Bojangles2.0

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Joined
Apr 12, 2012
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I have never quite understood this. But I've been on a low dose of suboxone for about 5 years now. I usually take anywhere between .25-50mg / day.

And I've been on this dose for the last 2 years.

The thing that drives me crazy, I get minor, but nonstop hotflashes all day long. What really boggles my mind, I get them RIGHT AFTER I take my dose. I dose twice a day, intranasal in a liquid solution that I spray up my nose. I built my own little spray bottle, dissolve the film in the water and snort it cause I can make my sub last much longer this way.

And the hotflashes DO get better after I dose. But they NEVER go away 100%... which never use to happen my first few years on opiates.

I am starting to suspect that this could be more hormone related... than opiate related. And I've been reading about a syndrome called "OPIAD", which stands for "opiate induced androgen deficiency disorder". I'm starting to believe that suboxone triggers this disorder because the longer I stay on it, even a low dose like this, the worse and worse my sex drive gets. When I first got on sub I was on a much higher doses, but my sex drive was fine the first couple years.

Fast forward 5 years, my sex drive is in shambles now. Women don't turn me on. Porn doesn't turn me on. I may masturbate at most once a month and even then it's very hard to get erect.

So I'm curious. Is it possible that suboxone suppresses your sex hormones, and many other hormones ... like the ones that are responsible for regulating body temp? I've even tried raising my dose on certain days, but still, I randomly get hot flashes all day long no matter what I do.

One last thing.

I tried an "experiment" a few months ago cause my friend does steroids and I was curious to see what would happen if I injected some test prop into my ass. I did it for 3 days (every other day for 1 week), and not only did I get my sex drive back, but the hot flashes **went away**. Which leads me to believe once again, that long term opiate use CAN lead to opiate induced androgen deficiency. And if you get it, NOTHING can permanently stop the hot flashes unless you stop using opiates, get on TRT (test replacement therapy) or somehow balance your hormones.

Is anyone else dealing with this?

I've been doing fine on sub but it's this 1 side effect I can't deal with. The longer and longer I'm on it the more and more my hormones seem to be going out of wack. I'm only 32 btw. 8)

Thanks - Rob
 
Hi Bojangles2.

I never got hot flushes from snorting subutex but I do get hormonal red flushes as I have, for the last few years, been going through peri menopause, which, of course, you being a man, it won't be applicable.
I do know how you are feeling. I fee like I generate heat from outside and radiate it outwards of me..
It feels like heat starting in the heart area and radiating outwards, drenching the neck, head, and whole upper body.
Fans are an essential by the bed of a menopausal woman.

I never flushed from subutex, but I used to misuse them by grinding and snorting them. Maybe it might have to do with method of delivery.
I used to get hot flashes on E

As for the suboxone taking away your sex drive, being pretty ignorant about these things I can only offer you an explanitory guess.
Suboxones a downer and things usually go down south, such as sex drive. I may be wrong but i would imagine lots of downer type drugs could also, possibly depress certain amourus joinings and gatherings
I'll let someone else comment on the steroid thing. When I hear people taking steroids and I see steroid use, I form a stereotypical image of a guy with a big top half, and huge muscles with bull-necks.
Dunno if all steroid takers are like that though.
I did once hear they could cause aggression, but I don't know very much at all about the subject
 
From what you are experiencing it certainly seems that you are onto something, Bo. Looking at side effects online I do see sweating and flushing as being listed as endocrine effects.

32 is definitely young to lose your sex drive. As far as the hot flashes go, I'm so used to them (menopause related in my case) I forget what it was like before I had them.8)
 
Your dr should be giving you a bi yearly blood test for testosterone. Yours is probably low, even though suboxone is an opiate blocker, its still an opioid. Ask your dr about angro gel, this will increase testosterone, and is much safer than steroids. Your sex drive will come back and so will your energy. I was on a ton of opiates and it helped me.
 
^ agree with the idea that a test for testosterone is in order. Androgel is testosterone gel, so it is a steroid. I feal that the gel is more dangerous and its effectiveness is far inferior to the injections. With use of the gel the risk to women and children is much higher and thats where I perceive the increase in danger.
 
I'm pretty sure what you're experiencing is mainly due to low testosterone. Ask your doctor about TRT and as already mentioned, injections are far more effective than the gel, and safer to those around you.

A monthly blood test for the first few months of TRT is a good idea, but it's not necessary if you can't afford it.
 
I'm sorry about the flashes. I get em too. If I don't take a lil bit of Klon every day I get hot as fuck. It's disgusting and making my taper very...very...uncomfy.
best of luck and sorry I have no answers I just know what you're dealing with and its FRUSTRATING .
 
Agree with neversick, I used angro gel b/c I hate needles. However it is harder to keep it off of stuff. Its applied to the upper arms and you must wear a shirt if you have women in the household, for at least two hours. Like mentioned before, if you apply it with your hands, then wash your hands, you need to wash EVERYTHING you touch. Then make sure you have a seperate hamper for the shirts you use. The needle is easier and you only have to do it once a week. For a needle wuss like me I went for the gel.
 
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